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Raiders Snap Three Game Losing Streak; Lock in for the Playoffs

Fernando Castro

The central league has been tough to Radnor this season. Going into their Friday night bout against the Penncrest Lions, the Red Raiders were at a measly 2-5 record in the central league. Grinding a win against Conestoga and rolling over Harriton, Radnor showed that they weren’t a bottom of the pack team. But crushing losses to Marple Newtown and Upper Darby show that they certainly have a long way to get to the top. Along the way, the Raiders suffered losses to Ridley, Haverford, and Strath Haven, each game being a defensive grind that the Raiders couldn’t get on top of, with score lines of 14-6, 10-0, and a more offensive 21-14 respectively. The offense finally got explode on Penncrest’s field for a 35-13 game and a third win in the central league. If Radnor can take care of a 2-8 Lower Merion on Monday, November 6th in their classic rivalry matchup, they will finish a respectable 4-5 in the central league. The Raiders were very fortunate however not to play Springfield or Garnett Valley this season, who sit at the top of the central league 9-0 and 8-1, respectively. But before Radnor is finished taking care of central league business, they have a playoff game on Friday, November 3rd.

Upper Dublin high school face Radnor in a 5th v 12th seeding matchup in the opening round of the AAAAA playoffs. Upper Dublin sit at a pretty 6-3 record, and 4-2 in the league matchups they play in, the Suburban One American league. The Suburban One league houses tough schools with usually larger or equal student populations than that of the central league. Upper Dublin finished third out of seven teams in their league this season, and farmed up a couple wins against weaker, out of conference opponents like the Raiders.

Still without their star running back Jack Horvath, the Raiders will definitely be in an underdog position this Friday against the Upper Dublin Cardinals. But if quarterback Sean Mullarkey can find key connections to Vernon Harper and Fahad Manzoor, and underclassmen Matt Cohen and Taylor Margolis can make a few explosive runs, Radnor certainly isn’t a far cry from getting a win and moving on to the next round.